• Keith McNally's Minetta Tavern and its selection of steaks score rave reviews—and three stars—from Frank Bruni in today's New York Times. [NYT]
• A peek around Warren 77, the bar that Ranger Sean Avery co-owns. [GS]
• Jeffrey Chodorow's next project, set to open in the new Kimpton Hotel in 2010, will be a Spanish restaurant and "global food park." [IC]
• A wine auction at Christie's last night raked in $1.1 million. [NYP]
• Dining in a recession: AMNY's list of spots that offer free good. [AMNY]

• Time Out's Jay Cheshes gives Smith's three out of six stars this week. [TONY]
• Philippe, Purnima, and OpenTable have all been hit with lawsuits. [GS]
• The Post's Steve Cuozzo doesn't think New York Times restaurant reviews matter much anymore. Not that he has an agenda or anything. [NYP]
• Jacques Torres's ice cream carts debut this weekend. [GS]